The Patriots Can Clinch The AFC East On Sunday - In 5 Different Ways
BOSTON (CBS) -- Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are on the verge of clinching an incredible 13th AFC East division title since 2000, and seventh in a row. They will need some help in addition to beating the Houston Texans for it to happen, but it is possible for them to clinch the AFC East in five different ways.
Let's assume the Patriots win Sunday night. They would clinch a playoff spot, but they will also clinch the division if they win and the New York Jets lose or tie. They would also clinch with a tie and Jets loss.
Another (more convoluted) way to clinch the AFC East would be for the Patriots to at least tie the Jets in Strength of Victory (SOV), which would require at least two of these things to happen: Pittsburgh wins, Buffalo wins, Miami loses, or Cleveland loses. Couple that with a Patriots win or tie, a Jets loss, or a tie for both the Patriots and Jets, and the AFC East is theirs.
In case this is giving you the same throbbing headache it's giving me writing about it, here's how the NFL explained the scenario in a press release Wednesday:
New England clinches AFC East division with:
- NE win + NE clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over NYJ OR
- NE win + NYJ loss or tie OR
- NE tie + NYJ loss OR
- NE tie + NYJ tie + NE clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over NYJ OR
- NYJ loss + NE clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker over NYJ
(Note: NE clinches at least a tie in strength of victory tiebreaker in scenarios 1, 4 and 5 if two of the following occur: BUF win, PIT win, MIA loss, CLE loss)
Since ties are so rare and unlikely to happen once, let alone twice - and because the SOV tiebreaker can go so many different ways - the Patriots essentially need a win and a Jets loss if they want to bust out the hats and t-shirts in Houston. The Steelers, who Patriots fans ought to root for in the coming weeks, will have a hard time helping the Patriots out with the tiebreaker as they head on the road to Cincinnati.
It is only a matter of time before the Patriots clinch another division title. But "Hat & T-Shirt Day" could be an early Christmas present.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read more from Matt here. Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.
